the siege, such practical experience was
gained as would enable any division of this army hereafter to
conduct a siege with considerable skill in the absence of regular
Engineer officers.

On the afternoon of the 3d of July a letter was received from
Lieutenant-General Pemberton, commanding the Confederate forces
at Vicksburg, proposing an armistice and the appointment of
commissioners to arrange terms for the capitulation of the place.
The correspondence, copies of which are herewith transmitted,
resulted in the surrender of the city and garrison of Vicksburg
at 10 o'clock A.M., July 4, 1863, on the following terms: The
entire garrison, officers and men, were to be paroled, not to
take up arms against the United States until exchanged by the
proper authorities; officers and men each to be furnished with a
parole, signed by himself; officers to be allowed then side arms
and private baggage, and the field, staff and cavalry officers
one horse each; the rank and file to be allowed all their
clothing, but no other property; rations from their own stores
sufficient to last them beyond our lines; the necessary cooking
utensils for preparing their food; and thirty wagons to transport
such articles as could not well be carried. These terms I
regarded more favorable to the government than an unconditional
surrender. It saved us the transportation of them north, which at
that time would have been very difficult, owing to the limited
amount of river transportation on hand, and the expenses of
subsisting them. It left our army free to operate against
Johnston, who was threatening us from the direction of Jackson,
and our river transportation to be used for the movement of
troops to any point the exigency of the service might require.

I deem it proper to state here, in order that the correspondence
may be fully understood, that after my answer to General
Pemberton's letter of the morning of the 3d, we had a personal
interview on the subject of the capitulation.

The particulars and incidents of the siege will be contained in
the reports of division and corps commanders, which will be
forwarded as soon as received.

I brought forward during the siege, in addition to Lauman's
division and four regiments previously ordered from Memphis,
Smit